Posts Tagged With: ascension

So when the apostles came together, they put this question to Jesus. “Master,” they said,” is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

We have come to a new book, written by a different author, Luke the physician and traveling partner of Paul. We are at a turning point in our story: Jesus is leaving and there is a promise of something new. But these are the same old apostles. Even now, forty days after the death and resurrection of Jesus, still they do not get it (and maybe I wouldn’t have either). It sounds like they are still thinking the kingdom Jesus is bringing is an earthly one in which Israel’s political, cultural, and economic blessings will be restored. Surely, Jesus has returned from the grave in an astounding show of power in order to rally the masses in a great revolt against Rome.

But he has not. In another move they were not expecting, he ascends into the sky and disappears. They are so confused they stand looking into the sky and have to be sent back to Jerusalem by two angels to wait for whatever comes next.

It is what they do next that struck me today:

They all gave themselves single-heartedly to prayer. (1:14)

That is such the right thing to do. When life gets confusing, pray. When things do not go as expected, pray. When you are sad and feel left alone, pray. When life becomes a waiting game, pray. When it is time to prepare for something new, pray. When you are scared, pray. That is a good example for today.